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Review: The Whistler by John Grisham

Title: The Whistler
Author: John Grisham
Year Published: 2016

Genre: Adult fiction (mystery)
Pages: 374
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Location (my 2016 Google Reading map)USA (FL)

FTC Disclosure: I bought this book with my own money

Summary (from the inside flap of the book): We expect our judges to be honest and wise. Their integrity and impartiality are the bedrock of the entire judicial system. We trust them to ensure fair trials, to protect the rights of all litigants, to punish those who do wrong, and to oversee the orderly and efficient flow of justice.

Lacy Stoltz is an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. She isa  lawyer, not a cop, and it is her job to respond to complaints dealing with judicial misconduct. After nine years with the Board, she knows that most problems are caused by incompetence, not corruption.

But a corruption case eventually crosses her desk. A previously disbarred lawyer is back in business with a new identity. He now goes by the name Greg Myers, and he claims to know of a Florida judge who has stolen more money than all other crooked judges combined. And not just crooked judges in Florida. All judges, from all states, and throughout US history.

What's the source of the ill-gotten gains? It seems the judge was secretly involved with the construction of a large casino on Native American land. The Coast Mafia financed the casino and is now helping itself to a sizable skim of each month's cash. the judge is getting a cut and looking the other way. It's a sweet deal: Everyone is making money.

But now Greg wants to put a stop to it. His only client is a person who knows the truth and wants to blow the whistle and collect millions under Florida law. Greg files a complaint with the Board on Judicial Conduct, and the case is assigned to Lacy Stolz, who immediately suspects that this one could be dangerous. Dangerous is one thing. Deadly is something else.

Review: The newest John Grisham, you know it's going to be good if you are a fan and I'd heard this one was better than many of his others. I was all in. And I agree, this one is one of his best.

There are some differences between this book and many of Grishams' others: it doesn't take place in Mississippi, but, rather, in Florida. it isn't just corruption in a law firm, but a corrupt judge and an Indian casino. It's a nice twist that also brings in organized crime. Yes, there is embezzlement. Yes, there is corruption. And yes, there are offshore accounts. What good Grisham book doesn't have those?!

If you've read any of Grisham's other books, you know the feel of the books and that is comforting. You know what to expect and this time around you'll get that plus. If you haven't read a Grisham yet... why not? This one is a good place to start.

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